Paws & Claws Animal Wellness Center

08/14/2025

🐾What are the benefits of getting your companion spayed or neutered?🐾

🐾Population Control:
Spaying and neutering are the most effective ways to manage the population of dogs and cats, preventing the birth of countless unwanted animals each year.
This helps reduce the strain on animal shelters, which are often overcrowded and underfunded, and decreases the number of healthy animals euthanized due to lack of space.

🐾Health Benefits:
Females: Spaying (removal of ovaries and uterus) eliminates the risk of uterine infections, uterine cancer, and significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors (breast cancer).
Males: Neutering (removal of testicles) prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate problems.
Both procedures can also decrease the risk of certain cancers and infections related to the reproductive system, potentially leading to a longer lifespan for the pet.

🐾Behavioral Benefits:
Spaying and neutering can reduce certain undesirable behaviors associated with the heat cycle in females and the hormonal drive in males.
For example, females in heat may yowl, urinate more frequently, and exhibit restlessness. Unneutered males may be more likely to roam, fight with other males, or mark territory with urine.
These behaviors can be disruptive to pet owners and potentially dangerous for the pet.

🐾Cost-Effectiveness:
While spaying and neutering involves a surgical procedure, it can be more cost-effective in the long run compared to the potential costs of raising a litter of puppies or kittens, or treating reproductive-related illnesses in an unspayed/unneutered pet.

🐾Community Benefits:
By reducing the number of stray and homeless animals, spaying and neutering helps create a healthier and safer community for everyone.
Fewer strays mean fewer potential conflicts with other animals and less risk of injuries or disease transmission.

07/11/2025

X🐾🐶🎆 Say Hello to sweet little Wynter!!! ❤️😍❤️

07/05/2025

Happy 🎆 💕4th of July from Paws And Claws Animal Wellness Center Team!🐾💓

07/05/2025

🎆July 4 is a wonderful day to celebrate with family and friends, but for animals it is a fearful, stressful and dangerous time.🐾💕

🎆Fireworks often drive pets to act out of character, especially if left outside and unattended. Animals can run away, jump over fences, and leap through screens and windows out of fear.

Protect Your Pet🐾🐶🐈💓

Animal Welfare is encouraging pet owners to protect their pets from potential harm by taking these simple precautions during the Fourth of July festivities.

Leave your pets at home and indoors. The noise of the fireworks for most pets could cause anxiety, fear and a desire to flee.

Keep pets in a lit, cool, calm closed room with familiar sounds and chew toys that will help to distract and make the animal feel safe.

Identification tags and microchips are a must in case the pet escapes. This will help to reunite the pets and the owners quickly and effectively.

If the pet gets especially stressed, ask your vet for help to calm your pet down.

Find Your Pet: Animal Shelter Locations🐾❤️

Should your pet get lost and end up at either shelter, Animal Welfare wants to expedite the process.

If your pet is already spayed or neutered, he or she will be returned to you free of charge. All you have to do is pick up your pets at the shelter.

07/05/2025

🐾🙏🏾💕Ralphie getting acupuncture and manual manipulation. To help with his osteoarthritis and canine cognitive dysfunction!

06/30/2025

🐈 🥰SAY HELLO👋🏾 TO HARLEY 🐾

06/30/2025

🔥🔥Heatstroke in dogs is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by the inability to regulate body temperature, leading to dangerously high internal temperatures (above 105.8°F or 41°C). It's crucial to recognize the signs early and seek immediate veterinary care as heatstroke can cause organ damage and death. 

🐾Signs and Symptoms🐾

Excessive panting: Even when resting, dogs may pant heavily and rapidly. 

Reddened gums and tongue: Gums may appear bright red, or even pale or blue in severe cases. 

Increased heart rate: A fast heartbeat is a sign of overheating. 

Drooling: Excessive drooling, especially if thick and sticky, can be an early indicator. 

Vomiting and diarrhea: These can occur, and may even contain blood in severe cases. 

Weakness and disorientation: Dogs may stumble, have trouble walking, or appear confused. 

Seizures and collapse: In advanced stages, seizures or collapse can occur. 

Dark red or pale gums: Gums may be a different color than normal, and may signal dehydration or shock. 

Causes:

Lack of access to shade and water: Especially during hot weather, dogs need a cool place to rest and plenty of fresh water. 

Being left in a parked car: Temperatures inside a car can rise quickly, even on a mild day. 

Overexertion in hot weather: Exercise can quickly raise a dog's body temperature, especially in hot and humid conditions. 

Underlying health conditions: Dogs with heart or lung problems may be more susceptible. 

Breed predispositions: Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds and those with thick coats are more prone to overheating. 

First Aid and Treatment💦

Move to a cooler area: Get the dog out of the heat and into a shaded or air-conditioned space. 

Cool the dog down: Apply cool (not cold) water to the dog's body, focusing on the belly and groin area. You can also place cool, wet towels on the dog's body, but avoid covering them completely, as this can trap heat. 

Offer water: Let the dog drink small amounts of cool water. 

Seek veterinary care: Heatstroke is a medical emergency, and even if the dog seems to be recovering, it's crucial to have them checked by a veterinarian. 

Avoid ice packs or v

05/12/2025

Happy Mothers to all the wonderful caregivers of life and the maintenance of Love. You are truly appreciated 🙏🏾✨️🥰

03/31/2025

🤗🎉Look who is learning how to use the one fast cat exercise wheel. Go Oso! 🐾🐱

03/18/2025

🎊🐾Give Riche a warm welcome to 💕💐 He received his first veterinary visit with us. So full of energy and life. I love it! ❤️

03/18/2025

03/13/2025

✨️🐾Let's welcome Princess for her first veterinary visit 💖 Nothing like some good snacks 😋